Explanation
The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is engaged in various Capital Improvements Projects. The cost of a capital asset should include all charges necessary to place the asset into its intended location and conditional use, which includes internal labor. City of Columbus direct labor costs for employees who are working in the capacity of project manager or construction are eligible to be capitalized to an identified capital project.
This ordinance authorizes the establishment of an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $1,200,000.00 for the reimbursement of staff time related to Recreation and Parks Capital Improvement Projects. $1,200,000.00 will be established for staff time reimbursements in accordance with the City Auditor’s Internal Labor Capitalization Policy. Reimbursements will be done via expenditure correction.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to ensure that the auditor’s certificate is available 3rd Quarter 2025 for staff time expenditure corrections.
Fiscal Impact: $1,200,000.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 for this purpose.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $1,200,000.00 for the reimbursement of staff time related to Recreation and Parks Capital Improvement Projects; to authorize the transfer of $1,200,000.00 between the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $1,200,000.00 in the Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $1,200,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the City Auditor to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $1,200,000.00 for the reimbursement of staff time related to Recreation and Parks Capital Improvement Projects; and
WHEREAS, funding is available for these reimbursements from and within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and
WHEREAS, the City anticipates incurring certain Original Expenditures (as defined in Section 1.150-2(c) of the Treasury Regulations (the "Treasury Regulations") promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with respect to the construction of the project described in this ordinance (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $1,200,000.00 between the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, funds will need to be appropriated within the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099 and within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, the City will reimburse the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099; and
WHEREAS, this transfer should be considered as a temporary funding method; and
WHEREAS, the aggregated principal amount of obligations which the City will issue to finance this project is presently expected not to exceed $1,200,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $1,200,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to establish this auditor’s certificate to ensure that the auditor’s certificate is available 3rd Quarter 2025 for staff time expenditure corrections, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $1,200,000.00 for the reimbursement of staff time related to Recreation and Parks Capital Improvement Projects.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said funds from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, the sum of $1,200,000.00 is appropriated in General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, in Object Class 10 Transfer Out Operating, and in Fund 7702, Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the transfer of $1,200,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer said funds to the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702, at such time as is deemed necessary by the City Auditor, and to expend said funds, or so much thereof as may be necessary.
SECTION 8. That upon obtaining other funds from the 2024-2025 Bond Sale for the City of Columbus, the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to repay the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099 the amount transferred under Section 5.
SECTION 9. That the City intends that this ordinance constitutes an "official intent" for purposes of Section 1.150 2(e) of the Treasury Regulations, and that the City reasonably expects to reimburse itself for certain Original Expenditures incurred with respect to the Project from the proceeds of obligations to be issued by the City in a principal amount currently estimated to be $1,200,000.00 (the "Obligations"). The City intends to make a reimbursement allocation on its books for the Original Expenditures not later than eighteen months following the later to occur of the date of the Original Expenditure to be reimbursed or the date the Project for which such Original Expenditures were made is "placed in service" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.150 2(c). Upon the issuance of the Obligations, the proceeds of such Obligations shall be used to reimburse the fund from which the advance for costs of the Project will be made.
SECTION 7. For the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $1,200,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment.
SECTION 8. That this ordinance, for the reasons stated in the preamble, which are made a part of this ordinance and fully incorporated for reference as if rewritten, is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after this ordinance’s passage and approval by the Mayor or ten (10) days after its adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this ordinance.